THE Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) assured that they are also running after big-time drug lords in the country.
This, after critics stated that the government’s war on drugs only targets the street level suspects.
PDEA Public Information Office chief Derrick Arnold Carreon said that this is “evidently false” as there have been multiple operations conducted by their office and the Philippine National Police (PNP) which netted high value targets and considerable amount of illegal drugs.
He cited their recent operation, a combined operation of PDEA and PNP, where they raided a warehouse in Tanza, Cavite, on February 3, that resulted to a shootout wherein two Chinese nationals were killed and 274 kilograms of crystalline substances suspected to be methamphetamine (shabu) worth P1.9 billion were seized.
“Ang problema kasi natutuonan ng pansin araw-araw ang mga balita may mga nahuhuling street level because our police are very active in doing so on the streets. Kasi kung hindi natin pipigilan ang street level siyempre kakalat at kakalat pa rin yan,” Carreon said.
He added, “But our focus, in tandem with the government agencies, is definitely most of the high value targets.”
The PDEA is also in close coordination with the Bureau of Customs to counter smuggling; Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) for the different ships that might transport illegal drugs; Philippine Ports Authority, and the Philippine Coast Guard.